Ariel82

Falling away

Ariel said that if God begins a good work in you, he will finish it, because he is powerful enough.

And you disagreed?

Scrtipture. Says, He who began (past tense) A good work in you WILL COMPLETE it until the day of Christ. It does not say he may complete it, It does not say it is up to you if he completes it (like we can stop him) it says he will complete it.. It is a non conditional prom,use made by God himself. He will complete it..

Do we trust him to keep his word or not? Thats the issue.

I studied this doctrine of falling away and believe it's tied to infant baptism and why some children continue in the faith after confirmation and why some fall away.

Confirmation classes are for 11-18 year olds mostly, but required to join the church as a functioning member.

Personally I don't believe water baptism saves anyone and you can baptize babies into the earthly Church family but only God accepts people into His heavenly family and adopts them by giving them the Holy Spirit.

So some who are baptized by men are not really part of the God's family at all. THAT is why they fall away.they never accepted Jesus as their Savior.

Comments

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them.

Here we see people bringing infants to be blessed by Jesus which is basically what infant baptism is, a blessing.

So some who are baptized by men are not really part of the God's family at all. THAT is why they fall away.they never accepted Jesus as their Savior.

The reason people fall away even after baptism and belief are because free will doesn't change. We are told to have faith thats all we must do is have a true faith.

Do we trust him to keep his word or not? Thats the issue.

That's the whole major issue. That trust, that belief, that faith in him. Faith starts weak and it must grow. If it doesn't grow it's easier and more prone to die. But as we see with the disciples and the early church. Faith can be strong one moment but weak the next.

So this only indicates we are in a relationship with God. A trust and reliance relationship. An acknowledgment of one's complete need for a savior.

Philippians 1:6New International Version (NIV)

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Paul had all the signs from these people to be confident but confidence is different than being absolute. Philippians 2:12-13New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Here is how God completes his work in us by our continuance to yield to the work of God within us. Continuance is key. Of course God will carry it to completion (Phil 1:6) as we are willing to abide and obey. (Phil 2:12-13)

Otherwise we grow weak like a plant without the water of life. And many have and will fall away. Fall away- rebellion
Apostasy- the end result of continued rebellion.

Notice many fall away for a time but many return. Some do not return. Its life. Free will exists before saving and after.

Mark 13:22New International Version (NIV)

22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Evil still rages war before and after saving. To undermine this gives satan a foothold.